|
PART 17  (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) On the second morning the fight broke between the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese Forces, Mr. Chaker Abu Sliman, Chairman for the Maronite league and Journalist Joubran Tueni met with General Aoun at the Presidential Palace. I participated in that meeting during which Mr. Tueni presented his point of view and understanding to the events. He focused on the right of the Lebanese Army to put an end to the imposed odd status that the people are paying unnecessary high prices every now and then. Mr. Abu Slieman fully agreed with Mr. Tueni and added, "It is not acceptable that things stay as they are with no control and under the mood of the Lebanese Forces. The state has to be decisive, take action and put an end to all obstacles hindering its efforts". He continued to say: " every body has to support General Aoun who gave Lebanon back its respect and the people their freedom and dignity. He concluded by calling on all the Lebanese to choose between a state and a farm, between security and chaos and to announce their choice with no ambiguity. That morning ended on this theme of transparency and with a unanimous call for putting an ultimate end for the odd status. The second day Mr. Abu Slieman returned to the presidential Palace with a sullen face perplexed mood. And a completely different tone. During his meeting with Aoun he seemed to be irritable, very restless, not him self and tense. He said to Aoun in a shaky vice tone: "this war is a dirty one, it should not have happened, every one must give a little bit from his own rights and compromise". General Aoun: "I am the head of the State and entrusted by law to be responsible for the welfare of all the Lebanese people. The rights you are denoting to, are the rights of each and every citizen. The Army is experiencing its righteous obligations and duties, it is trying hardly to provide the security needed for the country and the people. Abu Slieman: You are right General, but still you have to soften you stance. Aoun: Soften my stance, am I the one who is escalating? Dear Chaker, you are living the events, know very well the truth and already suffering from the atrocities. Abu Slieman: Again you are right, but you have to find a solution. Aoun: Yes, for sure, we have to find a solution, but not on the account of the States authority or the people's security. Those of us who attended the meeting were extremely surprised to see Mr. Abu Slieman adopt a new stance in contrary to what he was calling for a day before. After the meeting was over, I asked General Aoun what is going on and why Mr. Abu Slieman has changed his stance? Aoun said: "no doubt Mr. Abu Slieman is a decent and good man, but this rotten mentality in adopting contradicting stances has led Lebanon to its current disastrous status. In 1990, Mr. Raffic Hariri through foreign sources offered to pay General Aoun a huge sum of money to resign and leave Lebanon. Aoun responded joyfully by saying: "if this sum of money Hariri is offering becomes mine, I would not be able to spend in my life, and if it is a price to sell Lebanon ii is definitely too little". Our meetings with General Aoun were extremely necessary, for he was the leader, the inspirer, the encourager and the incubator for the unique public ongoing patriotic revolt. We were the organizational, executive and practical frame for this great revolt. We used to meet with him on regular basis to exchange views and get directions. His focus was always on the people and on the need to give them the main role in every activity. In almost every meeting he used to say: " encourage the people and help them to be able to express their opinion and beliefs freely, the way they deem appropriate, no matter who they support or oppose. These approaches and practices are very basic for the building and change process, as well as for liberation requirements and public orientation needed for achieving the revolt objectives, Aoun added. General Aoun has never objected any of our initiatives in contacting politicians, but he always stressed the importance of staying close to the people. He continuously advised us to listen to the people, inform them of what is going on, and always tell them the truth even when painful. He believed that national unity could not be reached without first uniting the people around well-defined holistic national convictions and mutual commonalties. His assistant's and supporters' conduct at work was extremely vital and very important to General Aoun. He encouraged us to be honest, humble, understanding, straightforward and transparent. He used to tell us: " do not bother to posses fancy offices, expensive furniture and numerous secretaries. If this becomes your focus, you would lose your innocency at work and the people's trust. Look what happened to those who ignored the main objectives and engaged themselves with superficial matters, be sure that with only a chair, a desk, a phone and a solid belief in what you are doing, you can achieve the unachievable. You can not be successful in achieving your patriotic goals if you are not modest, tolerant, unbiased, sincere, well mannered, see-through and truthful. General Aoun dealt with the rhetoric challenges of some mercenary politicians who viciously asked: "what is the General's political project, we are sure he does not have one, and in case he has It, let him make it public then we either support or oppose him". We constantly used to urge him to call for a press conference and announce his project, or to publish it in the newspapers. Every time we asked him to do so, he smiled and said: they are trying to provoke me by their questions and requests, they want me to do exactly what you are asking for. If I do, the project will be damaged and become like the "Ottoman shirt" (an Arabic proverb), a cheap merchandise for biding. Many projects were proposed during the last twenty years, as potential means for a national long-lasting solution, but all of them did not work and ended on shelves and in drawers. I am going to hold on my project till we as Lebanese become ready and able to talk with other openly and freely. At that time announcing the project will be appropriate and it would then be liable for a fruitful, civilized, dialogue in a peaceful quiet milieu without rigid stances or any kind of abuse. To be continued next week. Long Live Free Lebanon |